A MULTICOLOURED INTENSITY INDIA
SPIRITUAL REFUGE WITH THE COUNTRY OF THE SARIS SACRING OF CROWNED

Discovery

In the north of the country, you will be able to remain in a palace of maharaja in the Rajasthan, to hike in the grandiose landscapes of the Himalayas, to impregnate you spirituality which reigns on crowned banks of Gange with Bénarès, to let to you dazzle by the splendour of Taj Mahal, to leave to the meeting the Bengal tiger, or, to let to you carry in this mixture of unrestrained modernity and colonial past which characterizes its swarming metropolises. In the south, pass by vibrating Bombay before choosing to undertake a safari on the back of elephant in the tropical forest, to be stretched out on the paradisiac beaches of Goa and Kerala, to taste with the colonial charm of Pondichéry, or to leave to meditate in a center ayurvedic.

Identity

India is separate moreover of Asia by impressive natural borders: mountains of the Himalayas in north, Sea of Oman in the West, the Indian Ocean in the South and the Bay of Bengal in the East. Conquests and invasions put rhythm into the history of the country during several millenia, each culture mixing with the preceding one for little by little characterizing the country by a powerful religious and cultural syncretism. From 1600 to 500 before J. - C., is held the vedic period which sees the birth of the religion hindouist imported by the Aryan ones of Central Asia which settles gradually in the valley of Indus. At the 5th century before J. - C. appear Buddhism and the jainism which are freed from the Hinduism by preaching an ideal of renunciation whereas the urban wealth develops more and more. 

If it is far from missing assets, India is however a country which is deserved, and it will sometimes be necessary for you to pass in addition to poverty, heat or crowd to fully appreciate flavours and the mysteries of this destination-mosaic. Mosaic of colors, religions, ethnic groups, languages, flavours, perfumes, and cultures, whose charms will not leave any indifferent traveller.

Culture & Traditions

TAJ MAHAL

Gigantic white marble mausoleum, it was built between 1631 and 1643 by the large Mogul emperor Shah Jahan, in order to accommodate there the skin of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal, died while being confined of their fourteenth child. Shah Jahan made work the best architects and craftsmen of the time, accompanied by 20,000 blue-collar workers, and with spent more than 41 million rupees and 500 kg of gold.

CASTES

The castes are the expression even of the design hindouist, fundamental for the organization of the Indian social life. There are the Brahmans who represent the caste of the well-read men and the priests. The kshatriyas which are the warriors, with the duty to protect the weak ones. The vaishyas which represent the tradesmen and finally will shudras them, i.e. the craftsmen.

HINDUISM

The Hinduism differs from the other religions because it has neither dogmas, neither prophet, nor central authority. This religion is made of a set of very old philosophical concepts. Different ritual and concepts put rhythm into this religion. Dharma which fixes the duties according to the castes and of the age. Samsara, the cycle of the reincarnations, the karma which represents control and the acts, the virtue of the person. Moksha, the delivery, the ultimate goal of the life in the Hinduism. To succeed in leaving the circle of reincarnations to reach Moksha. For the Hindus, there exists one God, Brahma which is the supreme and absolute truth.

GASTRONOMY

The discovery of India and its various areas unquestionably also passes by that of its kitchen. India of the South east primarily vegetarian, i.e. without meat, neither fish, nor egg, and in certain more extreme cases without onion and garlic. Thus is primarily cooked containing rice and of various and varied vegetables, the whole accompanied by very raised spicy sauces. India of North as for it, is more carnivorous. Nevertheless, for religious reasons, one will find there almost never pig (prohibited by Islam), nor of ox (the cow is an animal crowned for the Hindus). Those are replaced by sheep or goat, chicken, and fish. A large variety of breads (naans, chapattis, parathas, roasts…) replaces usually the rice more used in the south.

Essential

Three principal seasons ago in India. The winter, from November to March, is the most pleasant season except in the Himalayas where the weather can be very cold. The Indian summer, from April to May, where heat is crushing. Then finally, monsoon where pouring rain falls down on all the country.

30°-40° SUMMER / 15°-20° WINTER
INDIAN ROUPIE
+3H30 SUMMER / +4H30 WINTER
English / Hindi / Bengali / Tamoul
New Delhi
DHAL / BIRYANI / CURRY

Form your trip

The stages

A travel in India east of an absolute wealth of term of culture, adventures, discoveries. Visit Taj Mahal and fill with wonder owe the record which the maharajas left. Let allure itself by a safari in India in one of the many animal reserves. Meditate in the country which saw being born yoga. Taste new flavours with a rich and various gastronomy and initiate with the cinema in the line of the films of the Bollywood. A travel to the Rajasthan, in India of north with Jaipur and its Hawa Mahal will be binding on you or you will prefer a circuit in India of the south with Pondichéry. Finish your stay with Goa at the seaside.

DELHI

New Delhi is a rich city culturally and historically. Traverse the city on board bicycle-rickshaw, the famous Indian rickshaws. New Delhi is a curiosity where mix with historical treasures as fall it from Humâyûn and the contemporary wonders to the image of the temple of the lotus. Main door in the country, New Delhi will enable you to realize of the part played by this country during the First World War, whereas the market of Janpath enables you to test yourselves with the particularly courteous bargaining practised by the Indians. The life in the streets where idlers and crowned cows mix confers on the city a single environment.

AGRA

Agra is a stage impossible to circumvent at the time of your stay in India. Why impossible to circumvent? Obviously for Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal, who means “Palace of the Crown”, is a mausoleum entirely built out of white marble. This wonder of the world is a jewel of Mogul architecture. It is in memory of his late wife that the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan made build this monument. You will contemplate there during several hours this jewel without you to weary of it so much the purity and the simplicity of the marble is beautiful to see. Over the rest of your day, do not hesitate to go to extremely discover the impressive one of Agra, larger extremely of India and classified to the world heritage of UNESCO. Its vastness and the red of its walls will fill you the eyes of splendours.

JAIPUR

Princely city and pearl of the Rajasthan, Jaipur bewitches its visitors. Worthy of the tales from the Arabian Nights, Jaipur is a wonder of architecture in particular with Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built at the 18th century, which was classified with the World heritage of UNESCO in 2010. The Hawa Maha or palace of the winds surprises by his size, his architecture and his ochre color. It is typical constructions rajputs and abounds in local legends. One should not forget the many palaces of Maharajahs, in Jaipur and its surroundings, which fall under the pure tradition rajput and which the visitors will have the leisure to be able to even explore to remain there.

JODHPUR

Jodhpur belongs to the state of the Rajasthan. Called the “Blue City” because of the color of the majority of its houses, Jodhpur is located at the doors of the desert of Thar. The monument not to be missed is without any doubt Strong Mehrangarh, dating from the 15th century and offering an incredible sight on the city from the top of its 122 meters. The place gathers several palaces as well as a museum dedicated to the local culture. The old city is also to visit for its typicity, the entelles ones (small white monkeys) that you will cross there but also for the cultural places in which it abounds, whose Turn of the Clock celebrates it.

UDAIPUR

Famous and attractive lakes like the lake Pichola, palace of Thousand and One Nights, lush gardens and hills of Aravalli in basic, welcome landscape at Udaipur, city of the north of India located in the State of the Rajasthan. Called “Venice of the east”, Udaipur with the gleaming lights is a tale with open sky. Visit Jag Niwas, palace which was used as decoration for the turning of the film “Octopussy”, sumptuous Jag Mandir or imposing it City De luxe hotel, without forgetting Sajjan Garh or palace of monsoon, the Jagdish Temple dedicated to the divinity Vishnou, the gardens (garden of Nehru) and fountains, as well as the islands of the lake Fateh Sagar.

COCHIN

Cochin or Kochi is the most populated city state of Kerala in India, with more than 600,000 inhabitants. Exit of the urban area of several neighbouring small villages, Cochin promises a true expatriation with its visitors. Small commercial port, the city is divided into 3 parts: Ernakulam, relatively modern tourist area, the artificial island of Willingdon and peninsula of Strong Cochin. It is on this peninsula that one can in particular discover the Dutch Palace, built at the 17th century and the Jewish Quarters sheltering the Pardesi Synagogue, one of oldest of the country. Cochin is also famous for the Chinese dashes, if typical, tended at the edge of water.

MUNNAR

 

Station of altitude created by the British in 1878, his name means “three rivers” into Tamil because it is with the confluence of Kundala, Mudrapuzha and Nallathanni. It is surrounded by superb plantations of tea, which will offer a panorama of any beauty to you. One can on foot make various excursions or with bicycle to discover the neighbourhoods. Tourism developed much in Munnar, with its batch of hotels of charm, restaurants and shops of crafts.

MADURAI

Madurai is the cultural capital of the state Tamil Nadu, located in India of the South. Very old city (one finds its trace in writings dating from the Empire Romain), it is a true cultural jewel. A stay with Madurai must begin with a visit from the temple from Minakshî-Sundareshvar, an architectural wonder whose beginning of construction goes back to the 16th century. Composed of 2 sanctuaries, for Shiva and for his Minakshi wife, it is the largest temple in activity of all India. Madurai is also famous for the beauty of its old city, its museum dedicated to Ghandi or the basin of Teppakkulam, with a few kilometers of the center.

PERIYAR

The National park of Periyar is located in the South of India, at the border between two states, Kérala and the Tamil Nadu. Protected, Periyar extends on 777 km ² and has a reserve of tigers. It is famous for its safaris in the jeep, or more original, on the back of elephant. Rich person of an incredible fauna and a flora, one can from December to May cross there (the best period of the year to visit it) tigers, elephants, an incredible diversity of birds, antelopes, bisons and well of others, in total freedom. Side vegetation, one can admire there tea plants, coffee-trees, trees with teak or of the plantations of many spices.

KUMARAKOM

Located on the banks of the lake Vembanad (longer India Lake), Kumarakom is a village of the State of Kerala in India. Surrounded by mangrove swamp, coconuts and rice plantations, it shelters a very rich fauna and a flora. One finds there also a sanctuary natural dedicated to the birds of a surface of 57,000 m2. Created by the Indian governmental authorities, it shelters many varieties of migratory birds. Kumarakom, will disorientate the travellers by its stunning landscapes and its dishes containing vegetables and fruits cultivated on the spot such as banana, mango, the jacquier, the puli, and pineapple.

ALAPPUZHA - BACKWATERS

In Kerala, in India of the South, are Backwaters. Between Cochin and Kottayam, these channels (for dug much by the man) form a network of several hundred navigable kilometers. The beauty of these waterways and their banks attract many visitors who will be able to discover human wonders as much as natural there. The inhabitants of the area are of an incomparable heat. The small villages of Backwaters shine of authenticity. You will be able to discover there a particularly rich and luxuriant vegetation as well as an extraordinary fauna. To visit Backwaters under the best conditions, the most adapted solution remains cruising.

MAHABALIPURAM

 

This site, registered voter with the World heritage of UNESCO in 1984, is a superb example of art pallava (the first great dynasty of the south of India). This whole of Hindu sanctuaries, dug in the stone with 7th and 8th centuries present of remarkable sculptures, in particular of the gigantic low-reliefs like “the Descent of Gange” (Bhagiratha' S Penance), of the monolithic temples cut in a single block of stones – Pancha Ratha (“five tanks”), and temples dug in the caves like Shore Temple (“Temple of the Shore”).

 

PONDICHÉRY

Founded in 1674 by François Martin, director of the French Company of the Eastern Indies to accommodate there his seat, Pondichéry remained during three centuries the principal French counter of India. Today, the superb colonial residences and churches of the old city, its bars, coffees and parks, testify to this powerful French heritage. It is necessary many to visit like: Raj Niwas, building which skilfully mixes French architecture and Indian architecture; the Church Notre Dame of the Angels; Aurobindo Ashram rested by Shri Aurobindo Gosh who proposes meetings of meditation open to all; the Museum of Pondichéry; Goubert Salaï, axis skirting the Bay of Bengal on 3 km where one finds pretty buildings colonial; Government Public garden; Manukala Vinayakar Temple or Botanical Gardens.

KUMBAKONAM

This Holy City is also related to the worship of Shiva and its central basin, famous Mahamakan Tank, is the epicentre of the festival of Mahamakam which takes place every 12 years. The city understands several temples worthy of interest: Kashivishvanatha Temple, Adikumbheshvara Temple, Sarangapani Temple or Nageshvara Temple. You will be able to buy also there traditional objects out of bronze, gold or jewelry.

TANJORE

Capital of the old kingdoms, Tanjore plays still today a main function in the development of the culture in the area, in particular in the fields of painting, the dance and the classical music. It is around monumental Brihadishvara Temple, composed of granite, that the political life and nun of the city were organized under Cholas. Built at the beginning of the 11th century by Rajara Chola 1st, he belongs to the whole of the Large alive Temples Cholas, registered with the Heritage of UNESCO. One can admire there sumptuous frescos and sculptures as well as immense a granite nandi. Royal Palace was built by kings Nayaka then modified by their Marathes successors, this palace counts various buildings of which very richly decorated Durba Hall, a tower of observation of 7 stages and Sadir Mahal where the former royal family lives.

RANTHAMBORE

In these landscapes made up of lakes, steep jungles and throats live numerous species of animals (stags, panthers, hyenas, tigers), as well as many birds. It is here perhaps that you will be likely to see tigers at the time of a safari in an open 4x4.

KANHA

One says of National Kanha Park that it shelters the most beautiful reserve of wild animals of the country, but also that it is an example to be followed as regards environmental protection. It is also the theatre of the adventures of Mowgli told by Rudyard Kipling in the Book of the Jungle.

BANDHAVGARH

National Bandhavgarh Park is one of the most popular parks of India. Located near Umaria in the region of Madhya Pradesh, it extends on 105 km2. The park has a very varied fauna and a flora and shelters one of the greatest reserves of tigers of the country. One also finds there leopards as well as numerous species of stags. Possibility of safari in the jeep.

KHAJURAHO

The monumental whole of Khajurao, built by the sovereigns rajpoutes Chandella between Xe and the 12th century, was found during centuries with the abandonment, before being rediscovered in 1838 and to return to the World heritage of UNESCO 150 years later. The harmonious structure of the temples, the quality of their ornaments, the thousand details of their low-reliefs, but also their famous carved erotic scenes made the celebrity of the site. Of the 85 Hindu temples and jaïns of origin do not remain today any more but about twenty between them, of which spectacular Kandirya Mahadev Temple, decorated of more than 800 stone sculptures and remarkably worked.

VARANASI

Varanasi called still Bénarès is located north of India. This city is crowned for the jaïns, the Buddhists and the Hindus. It is a place of pilgrimage where the Hindus come to bathe in Gange, their crowned river. This one holds a very important place since it is supposed to wash of all the sins. This is why the Hindus practise pujas and ablutions there. Varanasi is famous mainly for its weaving of silk, a matter sold in the bazaars of the city. Bronzes, jewellery and illuminations (paintings and drawings carried out with the hand) make also the wealth of the city.

MANDAWA

Known for its forts and haveli, the small town of Mandawa, is suddenly very resting after the crowd of Delhi. In the center of the area of Shekhawati, Mandawa was a commercial stage on the road between China and Persia. Around the fort built to protect the city in 1755, settled many tradesmen who competed to have most beautiful haveli. The city is a true art gallery to open sky and for a few rupees, the houses which are closed will miraculously be opened to you by an improbable guard who will tell you their history and will show you the beautiful interior frescos.

BIKANER

Tourist than Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, Bikaner was the third large kingdom of the desert of the Rajasthan and account for this reason several centers of interest. Strong Junagarh (fine of the 16th century) is the fort best preserved of the Rajasthan, it contains close to forty palaces, temples and houses superbly decorated. Behind the pink sandstone enclosures of the strengthened city, the old city abounds in small gravers in which you will be able to get crafts of the area (carpet, miniatures…) or to taste the local culinary specialities. One finds there also some pretty havelis and temples jaïns. Lalgarh De luxe hotel, built at the beginning of the 20th century, is a richly decorated palace, of which outside mixes the Rebirth influences and rajpoutes, and the interior a style Art Nouveau. It is divided today into two parts: one which is used as hotel, the other of museum.

JAISALMER - LA CITE DOREE

The “gilded city”, which owes its name with the yellow sandstone in which are cut most its buildings, was founded at the 12th century, in the middle of the desert of Thar, by the dynasty rajpoute of Bhatti. It is inside and at the bottom of its citadel that are most palace and havelis which testifies to the last size of the city. Proximity of the desert in fact an ideal starting point for excursions from 1 to 4 days on the back of dromedary or the jeep to leave on a tour of dunes Sam, the Amar Sagar Lake or the royal cenotaphs of Bada Bagh or the temples jaïns of Lodurva.

BUNDI

Bundi, small town with the medieval paces and the houses painted in blue is sometimes regarded as the “ignored jewel of the Rajasthan “Strong Taragarh, built with hillside in 1342 in the purest style rajpout dominates the valley of Bundi. City De luxe hotel, built towards the end of the 16th century, given up since with the monkeys preserves nevertheless a garden scrupulously maintained and especially a collection incomparable mural frescos in all Rajasthan and having even given the name to a pictorial style, L " school of Bundi”. Amateurs of Indian paintings seronts dazzled by the astonishing colors of these frescos of which a particularly luminous green. The city counts about fifty underground Wells: whose most impressive without question the Rani-ki-Baori a 36 meters is depth.

PUSHKAR

This small town is an important place of pilgrimage from its crowned lake, its 52 ghats and almost 400 temples. The city is completely vegetarian and nobody is used to with it as alcohol. At the sunrise and all the morning, the activity is intense on the ghats. The population of Pushkar finds itself to wash itself, wash the linen, to exchange, request. The city is also famous for its very popular fair with the camels which gathers each year in October - November several hundreds of thousands of people.

BANGALORE

These many green spaces which had formerly been worth the nickname of “City-Garden to him” are always there, they open out now in the middle of the hundreds of scrapes-ciels, which do not cease becoming populated dynamic young executives. So much so that the sixth city of the country becomes almost as cosmopolitan as Bombay. However, of many monuments will surprise you like in particular Tipu Sultan' S De luxe hotel, built in 1790 within a citadel of the 16th century which initially was used as residence of summer in Tipu Sultan, before being coccupé by the British administration, of 1831 to 1868. It is dilapidated a little today but its teak structure, decorated balconies, arches and pillars keeps all its interest. The Botanical garden of Lalbagh, arranged in 1740, shelters a large variety of rare plants, as well as a very beautiful canopy with the wrought iron structure, the Knell House.

BELUR - HALEBID

Belur, located at about fifteen kilometers of Halebid is a site sheltering one of the most beautiful temples of the South of India: Chennakeshava Temple. Built in 1117 in the middle of a large court, it is decorated many planks and low-reliefs carved with much refinement. Halebid is a city strengthened of 12th and 13th centuries bathing in a bosky bower. One can there rent bicycles and visit Hoysaleshvara Temple which is composed of two twin temples whose respective houses shelter each one an immense statue of Nandi, the bull of Shiva. The rich low-reliefs of the external walls represent various scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

HAMPI

In a landscape to cut the breath, in the middle of the rock peaks which skirt Tungabhadra, draws up the sumptuous site of Hampi, classified with the World heritage of UNESCO since 1986. The powerful Hindu sovereigns of Vijayanagar devoted monumental sums to the construction of a capital which is worthy of their empire, Vijayanagar (“Cité de la Victoire”). This whole of Dravidian temples and palace was so sumptuous that the travellers of 14th at the 16th centuries had as a practice to compare it with Rome. If gold were plundered following the catch of the city by the Islamic Confederation of Deccan in 1565, one can still admire today sumptuous vestiges of the stone buildings.

PATTADAKAL

In Pattadakal, it is still with the Chalukya dynasty that one owes this splendid whole of monuments of the 8th classified century with the World heritage of UNESCO in 1987. The 9 Hindu temples and the sanctuary jaïn which compose it testify to the wealth of the artistic achievements chalukyas which were then with their apogee. From an architectural point of view, one finds in some of them a typical architecture of India of North (Galaganatha Temple, Kashi Vishvanatha Temple) while the others are style of India of the South (Sangameshvara Temple, Virupakhsa Temple and Mallikarjuna Temple, Papanatha Temple). You stop in particular on the splendid temple of Virupaksha (740) of which the interior is carved walls with the ceiling of religious and mythological scenes.

GOA

Tiny state of 3,700 km2, Goa was in the beginning a powerful Portuguese enclave created by Alfonso de Albuquerque in 1510, and remained until its fastening with the Indian union in 1961. This Portuguese past very strongly marks, not only its architecture, but also the culture linguistic, culinary, religious, musical and vestimentary of its inhabitants. Its idyllic landscapes, between sandy beaches, coconuts, rice plantations and small villages bleached with lime, do of them one of the destinations more the appraisals of the holiday makers, Indians like foreigners. Goa Velha (Goa old woman) was the capital of the Portuguese enclave until this one is transferred to Panaji in the middle of the 18th century. It presents today a splendid whole of churches and convents classified to the World heritage of UNESCO in 1986.

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